Christmas is Coming & Guests Will be Arriving!

Christmas in coming!  

If you are having guests, take time to consider the ways you wish to extend hospitality to them.  Ensure that they are treated as the most respected and honoured people you have in your home!

Anticipate the needs of your guests, consider their likes, make a plan to create the perfect atmosphere.   You want them to feel valued and loved as the depart from their stay with you.

December's newsletter will focus on the concept of hospitality and creating a warm environment for our guests.   If you have not already signed up to receive our free newsletter, please visit our website and sign up today.

Organizing By The Letter: H is for Hangers

Well, it has been 3 days since our 12 hour Organizing Extravaganza on Facebook and I believe I have recovered.   Who knew it would be so exhausting spending 12 hours:

·         sitting at the computer,

·         posting events every 15 minutes,

·         and responding to emails?

With that event tucked away now, it is onto other projects and events as well as continuing the blog posts for the Organizing Alphabet.  The last post was back in July and we finished with “G” is for Groceries, so it is definitely time to complete this mission.

H is for Hangers

This week,  I am going to get my “crazy on” and pull a Joan Crawford and do the “No Wire Hangers – Ever” routine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOILKHmZBwc

Why the world-wide persecution of the wire hanger you ask?   Well I am so glad you did.

Wire hangers are:

1.       not strong enough to support anything heavy (like coats and sweaters),

2.        they can rust, leaving marks on your clothes,

3.       they get tangled together in the closet,

4.        they are too thin and can ruin your clothes by poking through fine fabrics

5.       they leave marks in the shoulder areas of your clothing making it look like you have miniature horns protruding – not a good look for most,

6.       and, they leave a sharp sideways crease on pants requiring extra ironing to get rid of (and none of us wants to do extra ironing.)

So what to do with all those wire hangers?    Return them to the dry cleaners – most are happy to take them back

No that the wire hangers are gone, what on earth are you going to hang all your clothes up with?

Again, I am so glad you asked!  Here are a few options that are kinder to your clothing.  

These hangers are big space savers &  have a coating to stop clothing from slipping off the hanger.   

There are additions that can be purchased for many of these thinner hangers to ensure they do not crease pants and the shoulder additions ensure that there is no dimpling of fine clothing

This hanger is sturdy, has grooves to keep dresses with straps from falling off and a strong middle bar for pants and skirts.   Personally, I prefer this type of hanger as opposed to the space savers above.   I find these are easier on the clothes.

What else is happening at Adventures In Organizing?

·         Our Facebook page has Mini Challenges called “Take 5” that are posted Monday-Friday as well as other organizing tip and treats.  Come visit, "Like" our page, and join in on the fun

·         Our monthly newsletter launched at the beginning of November.   Sign up is free so please visit our website and sign up to receive the December issue.  We are going to have an “Ask The Organizer” section in upcoming issues – to ask a question, simply email us and put “Ask The Organizer” in the subject line

·         We have created a brand new “virtual organizing” program called Minute By Minute Organizing to provide you with one-on-one organizing assistance for just $5.00 per week.   Check out our website to learn more.   We would love to assist you get your homes and life in order and this program is designed to fit any budget.

Minute By Minute Organizing - Program Launch Today

 

As an added bonus to those participating in our "free" 12 hour Facebook event, I wanted to create a program to help support people in moving forward.

 

In the spirit of the Facebook event being "free" wanted to make this new program incredibly affordable for everyone

With this simple, personalized program, we will take you from  CLUTTER to CLARITY at our introductory price of  ONLY $5.00 a week!

THAT IS LESS THAN A GRANDE LATTE!

Subscribe Now

You will have ONE on ONE service provided by an ADVENTURES IN ORGANIZING, AIOP Certified Organizer.

**ADVENTURES IN ORGANIZING IS A MEMBER OF the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD),
Professional Organizers of Canada (POC), Organizers of Ottawa and Faithful Organizers.

• Is this the day you want to make a change? Is this the day you have decided ENOUGH is ENOUGH?
• Have you not been having friends over for coffee or dinner because the house is a mess?
• Are you spending money to replace items you know you already have but can't find?

WE CAN HELP WITH THAT!

• Is your home office buried in paperwork?
• Are your kitchen counters piled with things that do not belong there?
• Are you unable to eat at the dining room table because it is covered with a mountain of items needing to be put away?

For as little as a trip to your favourite fast food restaurant or a grande latte, you can have a professional organizer assist in helping you to GET BACK ON TRACK, CLEAR YOUR CLOSETS, LOSE THE CLUTTER and GAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR HOME.

MINUTE BY MINUTE ORGANIZING is a HUGE savings over our regular "Virtual Girl" program, which retails for $99 for 10 weeks.

With “MINUTE BY MINUTE ORGANIZING" you have unending access - Not just for 10 weeks, but for as long as you choose to subscribe!

Subscribe Now

Each day you will have access to your Adventures In Organizing AIOP Organizer via email. Send us your photos, your before and after pics, your questions and challenges and we will work with you to solve each dilemma with creative solutions designed for you. You will also have access to our blog, Facebook group and our monthly newsletter full of tips and treasures.

Jennifer Dawson, founder and lead organizer of Adventures In Organizing has been helping Ottawa families for over 20 years. She began organizing before she really even knew that people made a career out of helping others - before she even knew there was such a career called Professional Organizing. Jennifer has worked with those who have major clutter issues, seniors looking to downsize, those who suffer
from ADD, single mothers who are feeling a little overwhelmed and many young families who need assistance establishing schedules and routines.

Click here to subscribe to this personalized program - It's Risk-Free!

Can you find anything in your home in Five Minutes or Less? While participating in the Minute By Minute program, we are going to work
toward this goal together. At this price, professional organizing services just became cost effective for everyone.

VIRTUAL OR CYBER ORGANIZING? HOW DOES THIS CONCEPT WORK?

1.  What is Minute By Minute Organizing?
Minute by Minute is a program developed by Adventures In Organizing and will be customized to meet each client’s specific needs.. You have a weekly subscription of $5.00 per week for you personalize one-on- one
virtual organizing service

2. How does it work?
You communicate with Adventures In Organizing via email. Send us your questions and concerns and we will help your work on specific areas of your home, one drawer, one room at a time. Working a pace that fits with your specific organizational needs is a key part of this virtual progam. If you want to blast right through a room, we can help you develop a “plan of attack” to make that happen. If you have a hard time making decisions and need to work at a slower pace, that is what we will help you do –at the same time, provide you with the inspiration and the tools to make your decisions a little quicker and to propel you toward you goals.

3. What can I expect when I sign up?
Adventures in Organizing will provide you with personalised detailed answers to your questions.
Explanations on how to reach your goals and jump start you on your Organizing Adventure.
Time Management Tips and Tools to equip your to make the most of your day.
Our Vision Casting worksheets to help you decide your priorities and were you want to go with this process.
Access to our Facebook Page
Subscription to our newsletter
Access to our Blog
All this for just $5.00 per week!

4. How do I pay for the Minute By Minute Organizing Program?

Once you click the “Subscribe” link, you simply fill in the PayPal payment details and you are in! Your account will be billed at the rate of $5.00 each week and you may cancel at any time, for any reason.

5. What do I have to lose by subscribing?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! At this price, there is no way you can lose. Just subscribe to the program and then send your first email to us.

6. What is the fine print?

You can send us one email per day with your questions, concern and photos included. It can be as long as you like and entail several photos.

We request 48 hours to respond, and we work an average business week (Mon – Fri) While Adventures In Organizing may respond on a weekend,
we are generally closed Saturday and Sunday as well as all Canadian Holidays. Our families are important to us and we manage our time to
ensure they know they are valued.

Register for the Minute By Minute Program today. SIGN ME UP

We are inviting you now to subscribe to this incredible, cost effective offer. This is an introductory offer to introduce our new customized program. Lock in your $5.00 per week introductory price today.  This introductory price will not last long.

Sign Up For Our Minute By Minute Organizing Program.  It's Risk-Free!

Let’s start organizing, Minute by Minute!

Jennifer Dawson

www.adventuresinorganizing.ca
You can also find us in the Social Media World on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/adventuresinorganizing
Twitter: @organizeyourlif
Pinterest: AdventuresInOrganizing
Blogspot: http://jennifer-organizeyourlife.blogspot.ca/

The Adventures In Organizing Guarantee:

If at any time, for any reason, you are unable to continue with our program, simply access your PayPal Account and stop payment. It is just that simple!
Not sure if this program is right for you?

Check out our Guarantee above and you simply cannot lose.

12 Hour Free Facebook Organizing Event

We are hoping to hit the 1,000 mark on our Facebook Page for this event.  The challenges have been written, the giveaways purchased, and the fun will continue to grow as we organize the big day. 

Hope you can join in and bring all your friends along.   

The Organizing Olympics, Day 5: Powder Room Paddle

We are moving onto  Day 5 of the Organizing Olympics:   The Powder Room Paddle Event!

During this event we are going to tackle the Powder Room....this is an individual sport and sadly, your team will not fit in the room.

Warm up, do your stretches, and get ready for your event.


You will need a broom, rags and your favourite bathroom cleaners.   I am a Windex gal.  It cleans everything.

This event involves: a warm up, the event, and the finish line...the podium is where you get your medal as you leave the room.

During your warm up, grab your broom and cover the bristles with a rag,   get all the dust bunnies and cobwebs knocked down from the ceiling - do the same with the walls

What is your strategy to win at this game? 

1. Getting the Powder Room Pristine Clean
2. Keep Only what you use and love and want guests to see in the powder room
3. Toss what is no longer in good condition and beyond repair
4. Donate items that are in good condition and you could bless others with
5. Move items that do not belong in the powder room to the proper location in the house.   This is a bathroom we share with our guests and intimate personal items should be stored elsewhere.

Empty the cupboards and the drawers and use the sorting process above.  Wash inside before putting anything back

Make sure there is a good supply of Toilet Paper for guests that is easily accessible.

Scrub Mirrors, Sinks, Facets and Counter Tops.   The toilet should shine inside and out.  

Make sure there are clean towels in the powder room.   Guest should not be using the same towels that you had your shower with that morning....ick!

Wipe down the cabinets and around light switches, toilet paper holder and doors.  Give the door knobs a wash as well.

Empty the waste paper basket - keep a fresh bag in there and if the inside of the can is dirty, wash it in hot soapy water...if it is really nasty, perhaps it needs to be replaced.

Scrub the floors and back out of the room.

You are finished, head to the podium to collect your gold medal to hang on the door.

If you require a more personalized solution to getting your home organized, please subscribe today to our Minute-By-Minute Organizing Program.   It is just $5.00 per week and offers you daily organizing assistance designed to meet your needs!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING - GUESTS ARE COMING - CHAOS ENSUES

It is hard to believe that Christmas is just weeks away!   How on earth can we get it all done, do it well, and be ready?

Remove the pain by scheduling small activities into your day planner.

Have guests coming?   Start with the bathroom.   Tidy out the medicine cabinet, toss old medications, purge old shampoos,  anything that you cannot remember when it was purchased.   Anything older than a year, get rid of it!  Wipe out the cupboards and put everything back that is being kept.   Remember to keep like items together - first aid items, hair care, dental care etc....   Purchase some store containers or use some baskets that are hanging around the house to keep them together neatly in the cupboard.  Are there clean towels for the guests?   Perhaps consider purchasing pretty scented soaps for your guests to use.

Note*  Many pharmacies will take both prescription and over the counter medications that are no longer being used.  They dispose of these medications in a safe manner and they do not enter the water system by being "flushed".

Now check the guest room.   Are the surfaces clear of clutter?   Clear all flat surfaces of clutter - toss, put-away or donate the items laying around.   Make the room as peaceful and restful as possible.   Is the bedding clean?   If it has been on the beds for months but is still clean, take the bedding off and toss it in the dryer on "fluff" with a softener sheet to refresh them and remove the dust.

Consider leaving a small gift basket for your guests with things like:  
mini shampoos,
personal hygiene items for women
lotion,
and a small box of chocolates for a late night sweet tooth,
add a novel as well in case they would like to retreat to their room over the holidays and read

Dust the room, wash the interior windows and window sill.    Grab your broom, wrap a dish towel around the broom's bristles, and dust the ceilings and walls to get any dust webs down.   

If the dog sleeps in this room - keep them out until after the holiday and make sure to vacuum well and air the room out so it does not smell like a kennel.

Looking for more organizing solutions?    Sign up for our Minute-By-Minute Virtual Organizing Program